Standup Paddleboard Paddles #3: Finishing #1 - Starting #2

I started #2 today. This one I’m shooting for better performance. I’m only using five 1/4” laminations this time instead of six and only one is mahogany instead of two. No lyptus in the handle this time either. The difference in weight is very noticable already.

Carving out the shark for the inlay

Dry fit.

The splines for the blade.

I book matched the front and rear blade faces. The front is going to be cedar, the rear mahogany. The light cedar front will have a dark mahogany stripe bisecting it. The dark mahogany back a light cedar stripe.

Here is the 1st paddle. I had already put on what I thought was the final epoxy coat but the cheap chip brushes I had left behind lots of bristles and brush strokes. Shortly after this I sanded the whole thing down again and won’t finish it until I do both at once with the 207 hardener. I’m then going to finish them with 3 coats of varnish as our buddy Neil has suggested in my eopxy question post.

This was just the epoxy with 206 hardener. I ended up sanding it all off. I’m going to use the 207 hardener which is supposed to give a smoother coat and then the 3 coats of epifanes varnish. I also need to get a good brush. Even trying to be careful I ended up with a bunch of bristles from the cheap brushes I bought for the epoxy.

Thanks Dorje. I think I saw some at West Marine. Think I’ll get one today.

I’m amazed too! The second one is almost finished. It went even faster than the 1st since I was confident with gluing up more than one thing at a time. I was able to glue up the handle the same time I did the shaft. Then glued up the blade and was able to work on the handle while waiting. I’ve spent most of my time on the finish so far. Screw it up….sand it off…..screw it up….sand it off. Now I’m waiting until I get them both built before finishing again.